Never Come Back

Chapter Nineteen

The shot rang out , Kate looked up into his face and watched his face twist into his demon. She flinched as Angelus growled into her ear.

"You are going to pay for that Kate.Be seeing you soon"

He stroked down her cheek causing her to pull her face away from his touch. Angelus pushed her away,Kate watched as he backed up into the fleeing crowd and disappeared from sight.

Kate heard an officer call her name and looked back briefly to acknowledge him ,then watched as the street emptied, leaving no trace of Angel. Kate put her gun back in it's holster and turned to rejoin the rest of the investigative team.

Spike took the exit and drove to Wesleys, following the directions that Wes had given to Giles. They pulled up outside and piled out of the car. Giles immediately entered the building ,Buffy and Spike followed with the demon . Willow and Xander followed them. Xander stretched and moaned about being squashed in the back.

"I don't see why I get to sit next to the demon.How do we know we can trust him? You know... he smells like cheeseburgers......"

Willow giggled "Get you all hungry again did it?"
"Ya huh... " he replied.

They arrived at Wesley's door and were surprised by his disheveled look.He bid them all entry and closed the door behind them.

"Sorry about the lack of space but do try and make yourselves comfortable. I never intended or thought that my apartment would be used in this manor. Would anyone care for refreshments?"

He received a few nods and retired to the kitchen to see to his guests. Cordy came out of the bedroom in just his shirt and after a brief smile at the houseful, made her way into the kitchen. She wrapped her hands around Wesleys waist and kissed his back.

"I could drown in coffee right now" she yawned "You'd think vampires would have found a way to switch to daylight hours like the rest of us, inconsiderate if you ask me"

Wesley smiled "Of course, can't have them interfering with your sleep can we, and the sun issue? "

"Okay.. I get your point but" she kissed him as leaned in "Someone wore me out"

"I intend to do more of the same as soon as this is all over"

Cordy swatted his chest and smiled as she sipped her mug of strong coffee and walked out behind him to join the guests.

Wesley put the tray down as several hands grabbed mugs of the caffeine ladened drinks. Giles sat on the couch, Spike sat beside him with Buffy on his lap, Willow had taken the floor ,as had Xander. Wesley sat in the chair and Cordy sat beside Spike but tried to keep the distance between them as wide as possible.The demon stood by the window .

Giles got straight down to business, telling Wesley and Cordelia all that had happened in Sunnydale and aout Buffy and Spike's circumstances. Wesley went into 'watcher mode' and started bringing out any books they felt might be relevant.

Spike sighed and whispered into Buffys ear causing her to laugh."I thought your watcher was dull, but watcher junior takes the bloody cake"

"Shhh" she smiled back at him though.

Giles and Wesley continued to talk and Giles explained the whole situation in Sunnydale and what had happened to cause Angelus to lose his soul. Wesley huffed and wiped his hands down his face. Of course he was happy that Willow was there and ready and willing to curse Angelus again, but they had to capture and hold him for that to happen.

"He will avoid the hotel so there's no need to go there , he will be local though. One constant is that he always comes after those he considered family, maybe we can use that to our advantage"
"Is that wise? Angelus isn't a fool.He'll be expecting us to do something like that" Giles said

Spike sat listening ,but kept quiet.He had an idea forming. It was just whether watcher Jr and his bird trusted him.

Buffy frowned. "So, if that's what he normally does ,and you think that he'll be expecting us to use that knowledge against him, how are we going to catch him? Angelus will see a trap long before we see him"

Buffy was right, her experience with him during the Acathla episode taught her exactly what he was like. She wasn't looking forward to coming face to face with him again.At least she had Spike with her again. If anyone could keep her safe, it was him.

"Is there anything that will give us an edge, anything or anyone?"

Wesley sat back in his chair and shook his head. The only thing that he could think of Wolfram and Hart and he wasn't willing to bring them into the equation.

Giles sighed and removed his glasses to massage his eyes. The lack of sleep they had had was finally catching up on him.

"Can I suggest that we retire .After a good nights rest we may be able to think more clearly."

He stood up and straightened his jacket .

"Could you tell me what sleeping arrangements have been organized?"

Wesley stood and led Giles into the hall , The group slowly followed them.

"Well I don't have a lot of room, I thought that Willow and Buffy would share whilst Xander, Spike and yourself would share the other room. Cordelia and I will be across the hall should you need us. I have put out clean linens and I'll leave you to sort out the sleeping arrangements "

Wesley bid them all a good night and went to his own room. Giles stood in the doorway of their room and saw the double bed. He groaned and went in, Spike and Xander followed. Immediately Xanders face fell even more than it was already.

"I'm not sharing with dead boy "
"Oi!"

Giles took a deep breath, to him it was like having teenage siblings with him.

"Xander, you can share with me, Spike can take the floor"

Xander smirked in Spikes direction and threw a pile of sheets at him. Spike shook of his duster and folded it to use as a pillow.He settled himself for the night and ignored the two men still struggling to get comfortable in the double bed. His thoughts centered on his mate in the next room as he fell asleep.

Buffy slid under the covers as Willow plumped her pillows .As soon as Willow was settled they both said goodnight and was soon asleep.

Across the street,Angelus watched as the last light went out .He smirked and stepped out of the darkened doorway and smirked. So, Wesley had called in the witch and the slayer? It saved him from having to go all the way to Sunnydale.Angelus sauntered away from the apartment building, a plan already formulating in his mind.

Kate threw a file on her desk and sat down hard in her chair. She pushed her hair away from her face as she leaned over and sifted through the photographs of Angels victims. One stood out. She lifted the picture away from the rest and focused intently. The cross carved into her cheek stood out, mocking her.Angelus was no doubt laughing at her, knowing that she would take the case based on that detail. Luring her into a trap that he no doubt had set for her.

She pinned the photo on the crime board and walked away. She passed her desk and stayed long enough to grab the file before leaving the precinct. Once in her car , she made her way home.
She left her car in the communal parking area and took the stairs as the elevator was out of order. Once on her floor ,Kate fumbled through her bag for her house keys.She heard a noise and turned to stare down the darkened hall.Aware that Angelus know where she lived,Kate hurriedly tried to get the door open.She considered trying to get her gun from the holster on her hip,but continued to turn the key in her lock.The door flew open and she just got over the threshold as Angelus reached her.His body hit the barrier and he growled and snarled at her.

Kate drew her gun with shaking hands and backed away a couple of steps. Angelus smacked his fists against the barrier blocking his entry.

"Your luck will run out Kate,sooner or later, and I'll be there"

"I'll be expecting you"

She slammed her door and fell against the wall of her hallway.She let out a breath and relaxed her fingers on the trigger of her gun. After a few minutes of recovering, she walked into her lounge and put the file and her gun on the table.She pulled a bottle of vodka out and poured a large shot and drank it down without pause. Kate wiped her mouth on the back of her hand and sat on the couch staring at the file.


The morning was more hectic than Wesley could have imagined. With more mouths to feed , a small kitchen and no dining area, it was catastrophic. At least Spike and Buffy were easy.A blood pack each and a few minutes through the microwave and they were fed. Although he noticed that they both slipped away together , he neither wanted to know or bothered to ask.

Spike closed the bedroom door and pulled Buffy into his arms.She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him in for a kiss. He pulled back before it could get too heated.

"I missed you so much last night pet.Sleeping with your watcher and Xander , not to be recommended."

"I missed you too." Buffy answered.

"Red going to do the spell today?"

"I think so, I know that Giles and Wesley were going to source the soul, whatever that means.I just hope that it works and the spell doesn't take yours"

"Don't you worry your pretty little head about me. I have confidence in the watchers and Red.... Okay maybe not Red, but with the two watchers keeping an eye on her ,I'm sure she'll do great"

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"
"Not working?"

Buffy shook her head. "How about we both go out and hunt Angelus down while they prepare . Might take our minds off it, maybe not but we might come across something to slay and a spot of violence always improves your mood"

"I know something else that does that just fine" Spike said as his tongue curled against his upper teeth.

Buffy slapped his chest "Down boy"

"Spoilsport"
"Come on , let's grab some weapons and go a hunting"

"Daylight? That thing that I can't go out in... happens about this time of day pet"
"Well I doubt Angelus is out in it ,so you'll be fine"

Spike rolled his eyes as Buffy opened the bedroom door and stepped out into chaos.Giles stood rubbing the bridge of his nose, Wesley was tense and close to grinding his teeth and Cordy stood pouting.

"Miss anything?" Buffy asked as she scanned the group.

"It appears that Xander is all for staking Angel thus removing the possibility of this happening again.Willow seems to think that she can ground the soul this time and Cordelia and Wesley are all for Willow doing that.Personally ,I think that whatever needs to be done to reduce the risk of Angelus returning , is best.Should that be staking him, then so be it"

Buffy looked from Giles to Spike, who shrugged. She sat down hard and fiddled with her knuckles.

"I say we do the spell.If it fails then I'll be the one to go out, find him and I'll kill him again. But we have to at least try. Angel did a lot of good , with him dead the worlds a champion down and we need all the help we can get"

Giles smiled softly "As you wish Buffy "

Spike picked up a handful of stakes, offering Buffy three and then picked up a sharpened baseball bat and tucked it into a long pocket in his duster.Buffy picked up crossbow and a dagger. Once armed, they told the group that they would be capturing Angel if they could and to be ready to perform the spell upon their return.

Spike concentrated on feeling the familial bond he had with Angel and found that although dull from the years of seperation, he could still sense him on the edge of his consciousness.He wasn't far, probably in the warehouse district. Buffy and Spike got into the car and he drove off in the direction his senses were leading him.


Across town in a run down warehouse, Angelus prowled around his captives.

"I always thought I was an old fashioned guy, but I have to say, technology has it's uses."

Angelus picked up the video camera from an old counter top and placed it on it's tripod. He pushed a few buttons and stepped away. He picked up a meat hook and again, circled his victims.

"Now which one of you do you think Kate will miss the most hmmmm? Will she miss the eager cop who chased me down or the detective who followed her orders and worked out where I was? I wonder why it is that she didn't come herself?"

He stepped closer to the cop and he tried to move away from Angelus. He swung on the chains that he was strung up by causing Angelus to laugh.

"And where do you think you can go? I have you right where I want you and nobody can hear you scream."

"Except me" came a voice as the old wooden door swung open .

Bathed in the sun, Buffy stood ,hands raised ,stake in one hand, crossbow in the other.

Angelus growled loudly "Buff... so good of you...." he halted mid sentence and he inhaled deeply "Well , well, well.... someone has been a busy boy"

Spike ran in, dropping his blanket and extinguishing the embers. He issued a warning growl which in turn made Angelus roar.

" And here's the man that made her the girl she is today! Have to say , Willy, I didn't think you had it in you.Even Dru thought you had more humanity in you than a demon had rights to. How'd you manage it , I have to ask? I'd congratulate you on your first childe but you took what's mine."

Buffy felt her demon scream for violence, her face shifted and her fangs dropped into place.Spike placed his hand on her shoulder and walked beside her and took her hand in his.

" You gave up the right to call her yours the day you walked out on her.And for your information, it wasn't actually me that turned her"

"She reeks of you and I can feel that she is family ,boy. That's your mark she now wears, is it not?"

"Everything is always so bloody cut and dry with innit? She was turned by some jumped up scientist that had a god complex .She captured us both and gave Buffy a blood transfusion.Happy now you know , wanker?"
"Is that true Buffy?"

Buffy sighed, why on earth were they even talking and telling him? Weren't they supposed to find him and capture him, and take back so that Willow could perform the spell?

"Yes, it's true, okay? Spike is my sire through some bitch that played god.No, I'm not exactly a true vampire and yes, Spike and I are an item.Can we get on with the fighting now?"

Angelus laughed. "What do you mean you're not a true vampire? I have to hear this one"

"How about I just give you a demo instead?"

Buffy morphed and growled as she flew at Angelus, knocking him backwards as her fist connected with his jaw.She swung her foot round and hit him at the back of his head, sending him into Spikes reach.Spike caught Angelus with a multitude of punches to his face and jaw .Angelus didn't stand a chance but gave a good fight .Spike held Angelus as Buffy kicked and punched him , rendering him helpless against her attack. Finally he slumped in Spikes arms and he let Angelus fall to the floor. Buffy bent to cuff his hands and found herself caught up in Angelus' hold, a stake at her heart.

Spike saw it happen in slow motion but couldn't act fast enough to stop Angelus from grabbing her. Now seeing the stake at her chest, he backed off, both hands raised submissively. Angelus backed away from Spike, smirking as his childe fought his inner war.

"Your wondering if you can leap at me and get her away from me before I sink this stake between her breasts.Why don't you try Willy?"

Spike almost went for it but hesitated and stopped himself. Buffy closed her eyes in disgust as Angelus licked at her throat and cheek before he planted a kiss there.

"Maybe I'll have some fun before I kill her, or maybe I should drain her and give her more of my blood. Make her mine William, just like Dru .Hmmmm bet you taught her some tricks , things I could do to this body that I never had a chance to before.Reckon she'd like that ?"

"You don't get to touch her like that you sick bastard!"

"No? And who's to stop me then? You?Don't make me laugh boy"

His hand wormed it'd way down her body making Buffy cringe with disgust and fear. Angelus ground his hard cock into her ass as his hand forced it's way into her folds and plunged into her core.It was neither gentle or pleasurable and Buffy yelped as he curled his fingers up into her womb.

Spike roared as Angelus withdrew his hand and licked at his fingers.He yanked Buffy back and opened the doorway.He glanced back briefly before turning back to Spike.

"If she's good I might let you have her again once I finished with her.Until then...."

Angelus and Buffy disappeared from sight.Spike ran to the door that still swung from their exit , he looked around and saw nothing.Even their scent had been masked by the laundry across from the warehouse.Defeated, Spike returned to the watchers and Buffy's friends.

A/N:- Thank you so much for the kind reviews , they rock!
Hypocreation... what do you mean? Shadowwolf, Kil, and WriterChick 1990 hope you all enjoy this chapter x
Next chapter will be Angelus and Buffy , what will he do with her now???